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BY 

L. A. SEAMSTER 

BENTONVILLE, ARK. 
1911 



Price 2 S Cents 



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BY 



L. A. SEAMSTER 

u 
BENTONVILLE, ARK. 

1911 



Benton County Sun Print, Bentonville, Arkansas 



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©CU290460 



LC Control Number 




tmp96 026231 



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THE TRAINING 

|THE very first thing to do, is to learn the 
■^ rules of base ball. This work is too short 
to enclose them here, but you can procure them 
from your local sporting goods dealer or he can 
tell you where to get them if he does not keep 
them. After you learn them and especially 
learn the rules, about the position you are going 
to play, then comes the training and you should 
train according to your physical ability. You 
should work off all surplus flesh by running and 
throwiug, batting and punching a punching bag 
or any kind of exercise. You must not over- 
work yourself at any time and especially at the 
beginning, do not run too long or throw too 
much so as to make you so sore that you will 
not be able to work for a week or two. 

But begin easy and do a little more each 
day, and you will naturally grow in good con- 
dition, as a small blade of grass grows to a large 
bunch. 

Don't exhaust yourself before you stop but 



2- 



always stop while you feel good, then you will 
be anxious for training time to come. 

Some have to train a month, while others, 
who are light and thin, can get in good condit- 
ion in ten days. Always, after training or a 
game, take a good warm bath just before re- 
tiring. This will keep up circulation and keep 
you from getting stiff, by rubbing yourself down 
good all over as a good horseman does his horse 
after a long drive. This will keep you limber 



and in good shape. 



THE SIGNALS. 

^THE whole team should work like machinery, 
^^ every man on the team should know what 
ball the pitcher is going to throw. 

The catcher should give the signal to the 
second baseman and he, in turn, give it to the 
rest of the team. 

Team work consists of the team knowing 
the signals well and being able to give them, so 
the other side will not catch on or find out the 
signals, and of being able to execute the plays 
when you have the chance. 

The catcher can give the signals to all of the 



in- field and the first baseman give it to the right 
fielder. Second baseman to center and third 
baseman so left field. 

You should not rely on a single code of sig- 
nals all the time, not for any one game. If the 
other team finds them out you will have to 
change them, but not unless they do. 

Heretofore the amateur teams have relied 
on the pitcher and catcher to do all the signal- 
ing, or that their signals were all that was nec- 
essary but that is not the case. 

The whole team should know what the 
pitcher is going to throw. 

First, the catcher should know, so he would 
be able to catch it, if the batsman misses the 
ball, or fails to strike; but the batsman does 
not always fail to hit, and when he hits is when 
the rest of the team should know what the 
pitcher throws, so they will know where to play 
for the batted ball or where the batsman is most 
likely to knock it. Hence, if the pitcher 
throws a slow ball close to a right hand batsman 
he is most likely to knock the ball toward third 
base, or if he hits a fly ball, into left field; a 
left hand batsman would knock it, most likely, 
by first base, or in right field. . But if the pitch- 
er should throw a fast ball on the outside or far 



corner of the plate from the batsman, the left 
hand batsman would probably knock it where 
the right hand batsman would if it had of been 
slow and close to him And the right hand 
batsman wou<d probably knock it in right field 
or by first base; or usually a batsman will be 
more likely to hit a low ball on the ground and 
a high ball he will likely hit a fly, unless it is a 
batsman who hits with a dipping stroke, he is 
apt to lift a very low ball into the air. So you 
see if the whole team knows what the pitcher is 
going to throw they will know where to play to 
get the ball if the batsman hits it and he is go- 
ing to hit it a part of the time Then, if every- 
one is paying close attention to catch the signal 
they w r ill be more apt to be the game all the time 
and not be watching the crowd or something 
else, when he is needed the worst. 

Anyone can form a code of signals with a 
little thought. For instance, putting your left 
hand under your right arm might be a signal 
that the pitcher was going to throw a low fast 
ball on the outside corner of the plate. Then 
the first and second basemen would expect a 
ground ball to come their way and the right 
fielder should come in a little to back them up 
Of course these signals could all be given in an 
instant and the batsman would know nothing of 



it until he had hit the ball into someone's hands 
and the crowd would think it just luck, or that 
the fielder who got the ball happened to be in the 
right place. If you can do that every time you 
will be apt to win your game. Anyone could 
fix a signal of som* sort for every ball pitched, 
or if there is a base-runner on a base, have one 
for the catcher to give the baseman and one to 
give the pitcher at the same time, then you 
would be able to catch the runner asleep and the 
baseman would be expecting the throw. 

You should fix some natural movement for 
the signal so the opposite side would not be so 
likely to catch on to the signal. 

You should think out a code of signals that 
would cover every important feature of the 
game. 



THE PITCHER. 




-7- 

THE PITCHER. 

^THE most important position in the game and 
^r the one the most responsibility rests on, is 
the pitcher. Therefore he needs the most care- 
ful training to be a good pitcher. You must 
have a desire to play ball and have an ambition 
to pitch. The thought of the money that a 
good pitcher makes never makes a good pitcher. 
To get in shape to pitch is the most difficult 
proposition to overcome. The best way to get 
your arm in shape is to have someone to throw 
to. Stand the same distanee apart that the 
pitcher and catcher stands in the game. Throw 
very easy in the beginning, not too long, either. 
The muscles in the arm are very tender, es- 
pecially in those that are not used to manual la 
bor. 

If you are not used to throwing, the mus- 
cles used in the throwing are very tender. You 
must be careful not to over exert yourself at the 
beginning. Begin easy and work on up with a 
little exercise every day, a little more each day 
for about one month will generally put an arm 
in good condition, especially if it has begun to 
warm up in the spring. When you get through 
practice bathe your arm in warm water, rub dry, 
and be very careful not to let your arm chill or get 



too cold. Before retiring at night bathe the arm 
good in warm water and bake dry around the 
fire. Then go direct to bed and keep warm. 
This will keep your arm from getting stiff and 
sore. 

Never go in a game and throw hard after 
you are in shape, till you have thrown easy 
awhile and got warmed up or your arm used to 
the regular motion. If you have no one to 
throw to put up something to throw at or if you 
have only limited space in a building or any- 
where, fasten a string to a ball and tie the other 
end of the string to something over head, then 
you can throw the ball and it will return to you. 
Anyway to get your arm used to the motion you 
have to go through with to pitch the ball. That 
is, it will take some a month while others can 
work out in ten days. But one with any sur- 
plus fat on it will take about a month. He must 
work that off. Don't work too much if you are 
thin and in very good shape. Don't risk losing 
the snap and ginger it takes to make a good 
pitcher. While doing this practice you should 
always try to hit a particular spot, if not real, 
imaginary, for control is the most important 
thing about pitching. Without it you can never 
be a successful pitcher. Never attempt to curve 
a ball until you have practiced for quite awhile, 



and have your arm in condition to stand a good 
deal of hard throwing without feeling sore. A 
whole lot of speed is a good thing to have but a 
bad thing to depend on altogether; because, the 
harder the ball is thrown the faster it will go 
when hit center. Good change of speed is one 
of the best qualities of a pitcher. Learn to 
throw your fast ball medium fast and slow ball 
or any change you like with the same movement 
of the body and same motion of the arm. 

A ball held loosely between the fingers or 
far down in the palm of the hand will go much 
slower with the same force behind it than one 
gripped very tightly between the fingers ; they 
will start about the same but the one held loosely 
will slow up before it gets to the batsman, while 
the one held tightly will go on at the same pace. 
If you can fool the batsman in the speed of the 
ball he will miss it, or, if he should hit it he has 
lost all the snap in the stroke and it will result 
in either a little pop up fly, or an infield top, and 
he will be an easy out. 



-10- 
C I r RYES. 

/5THE in-curve is thrown by holding the ball 
^■^ tightly between the two fore fingers and the 
thumb, with a side arm throw; the more force 
put behind a ball thrown this way, usually the 
larger the curve. But there is another, and gen- 
erally more effectiye ball thrown almost the 
same way, only it is called a slow-in. You hold 
the ball the same way, not quite so tight, and 
throw, keeping your arm close to you, and let 
the ball loose nearly in front of you, with a push 
ing force and a quick, peculiar snap of the wrist 
that can only be perfected by practice; this curve 
when perfected, results in a straight ball from 
the hand to just before it reaches the plate, 
when it turns in, with a quick break, and is very 
effective. 

THE OUT- CURVE. 

The out curve is thrown by holding the ball 
between the thumb and the two front fingers, 
with a side arm throw, letting the ball roll out 
over the front finger with the palm of the hand 
upward; the out-drop is thrown the same way, 
only with nearly an overhand throw, with the 
palm of the hand sideways, w r hen the ball is let 
loose. The drop is held in the same way, with a 



-11- 

straight, overhand throw and the palm of the 
hand up when the ball is let loose. 

THE IN-DROP. 

The in-drop is held between the thumb and 
first two fingers. Throw an overhand throw 
and let the ball roll out over the bottom part of 
the second finger, give the wrist a quick snap, so 
as to make the ball spin. All curves are caused 
by one side of the ball turning faster than the 
other side; the side that turns fastest will make 
the ball curve that way. You can hold the ball 
he same way and let it loose different, with a 
different throw, and get most any kind of a curve 
you wish. 

THE OUT-BREAK. 

The out-break is held in the hand the same 
way, and thrown with a close arm-throw, with 
the palm of the hand down, until just as you let 
the ball loose, then turn the palm sideways with 
a kind of a snap, the result is a straight ball, 
until right at the plate, then with a quick out- 
break. And the quick slow drop can be thrown 
in the same way, only let the palm turn up just 
as you let the ball loose. 

THE UP SHOOT. 

The up'Shoot or jump ball is held tightly 
between the two front fingers and the thumb, 



12 



with the tips of front fingers gripping the ball 
very tight, with a close arm- throw, and palm of 
hand sideways until just as you let the ball 
loose. Then turn palm downward before letting 
loose with a kind of snap and a pushing force. 
The result is a straight ball almost to the plate, 
then a quick up break or up-shoot that makes it 
about the most effective ball used. 

THE SPIT BALL. 

The spit ball is thrown by moistening the 
two front fingers so they will slip off the ball 
easily, and gripping the ball with the thumb 
with an overhand throw; the palm of the hand 
down this results in a drop, but is seldom con- 
trollable, and is not used with much effect by 
but few pitchers. 

THE KNUCKLE BALL. 

The knuckle ball is thrown by closing the 
two front fingers and letting the ball rest be- 
tween nails of them and the thumb with a sort 
of pushing, close-arm, overhand throw and re- 
sults in a good drop, but takes lots of practice 
to get under good control. 

THE DOPE ball. 
The dope ball is held loosely in the palm of 
the hand and with the fingers on it and thrown 
with any motion of the arm desired. It is not a 



13- 



curve but a slow ball, without any life, and fools 
the batsman more on the speed of it than any- 
thing else Of course you can make it curve a 
little, most any way desired, if you can get one 
side to turn faster than the other. 

The break-ball is far the most effective ball 
thrown, because with a little practice you can 
get almost perfect control; about as perfect as 
you can in the straight ball; still, change of 
speed is considered by some to be the best thing 
to use for a fast ball, then one a little slower, 
or two fast ones and a slow one, or just any 
change the pitcher desires, for, he can tell, by 
studying the batsman, more about what change 
to make than anyone trying to put down a rule 
to follow. Then, the break used with the 
change of speed is bound to produce results. 
I don't mean it is bound to make the batsman 
miss every ball, but will enable the pitcher to 
make him hit the ball to some player that he 
may choose. You must study the batsman, his 
manner of swinging his bat, coolness and nerv- 
ousness, for a very nervous batsman can place 
or hit a slow ball with very much difficulty, if 
you keep him looking for a fast one all the time, 
by throwing him one once in awhile. Think 
about where his bat will be when the ball gets 



-14- 

there, and try and hit the bat so the ball will re- 
bound to some fielder. If you are going to 
throw a little slow the batsman will likely 
swing his bat a little far around, and if he is a 
right hand batsman throw it close to him and he 
will knock it down toward third base. If you 
hit the top of his bat, or a little above the cen- 
ter, it will result in a fly. An up- shoot is good 
to make him knock a fly, and a drop for a ground 
ball; unless he is a batsman that swings with a 
vicious lick, then a straight ball, or up- break, is 
best, unless you can get a terrible drop. For 
generally that kind of a batsman has a kind of 
dip in the swing that sometimes puts the drop 
out of the park. Don't worry about losing the 
game while pitching. You will have worry 
enough when it is over, if you do. But be your- 
self. You are made out of the same kind of 
material most people are. Have confidence, 
without vain pride, and dignity without stiff- 
ness. Concentrate your thought on the ball you 
are about to pitch. Know, before it starts, just 
right where it is going, and always put your 
break on the ball just before it gets to the bat; 
if you don't, you had as well throw a straight 
ball. Annoy him, and keep him from hitting 
you at will. When a batting rally starts and 



15 



they get to knocking you to every corner of the 
lot, they will naturally have more confidence, 
and then is when you need all your wit, nerve 
and courage. Give them some of the best you 
have. Waste a few balls, throw them low, wide 
or close to them, walk some if necessary, keep 
them from hitting the ball where the fielders 
can't get them, as fast as they get up, anyway. 

Just to pitch is not all a pitcher has to do. 
He must watch the base runners like a hawk. 
Keep them close to the base. You must learn 
to throw to catch a runner in a way that the 
runner will not perceive the move until you have 
thrown. You must also learn to field your 
position, and when to field your position. And 
when the first baseman is after a ball always 
cover first base, or, as the catcher misses or 
muffs the ball with a runner on third, or catch a 
foul fly, or leaves to get the ball, always cover 
home plate; and, if a runner is hemmed in be- 
tween first and second base always take first and 
back up the first baseman. If a runner behind, 
between second and third, always take third and 
back up the third baseman; if between third and 
home plate, cover home and back up the catcher. 



16 




THE CATCHER 



MEXT to the pitcher the catcher probably has 
the most thinking to do, and in some in- 
stances has more then the pitcher. He must 
watch carefully the batsman and study his man- 
ner of standing, swinging his bat and the ball 
that each individual batsman hits the best. And 



-1 7- 

warn the pitcher where to throw thein to handle 
the batsman to the best advantage. The catcher 
can tell the kind of bat the batsman bats with 
whether it is heavy or light, he can pick them 
up carelessly to find out the weight of the bat if 
he is not sure, and a batsman that bats with a 
heavy bat is not likely to be able to handle a 
ball close to him, while that is the place that 
one with a light bat wants them. Keep the ball 
away from a man with a light bat and close to 
one with a heavy one, and also a batsman that 
bats w r ith a long bat and holds his bat near the 
end can hardly do anything with a ball close to 
him, so you must be careful to have the pitcher 
keep them close to him, but if he bats with a 
short bat or chokes his bat keep them away from 
him Then you must know the signals and be 
able to give them slyly to the one you are to 
give them to. The catcher is not always the 
one to give the signal the manager may give 
them from the outside, or any one of the players 
may give them, but the attention of the team is 
kept on home plate while there is a batsman at 
bat, and therefore the catcher is the best man to 
do the signaling. You must watch the base- 
runner and if he ventures too far or something 
attracts his attention be sure and give the base- 
man and pitcher the signal and take eyery ad- 



-18- 

vantage of every opportunity you have. Be 
persistent and work, for that is what it takes to 
win. You should encourage your pitcher occa 
sionaliy with a few choice words to give him 
more confidence and keep him in good spirits. 
If he gets to delivering the ball too quick after 
he gets it be a little slow about signaling and 
when you get the ball walk around in the dia- 
mond toward the pitcher and throw him the ball 
— this will slow him up a little and quiet his 
nerves by giving him a little time while you get 
in position. As your hardest throw is to second 
base you should get in the habit of letting your 
arms give when you catch the ball so as to put 
you kindly in a swinging position, then with a 
quick snap of the arm from the elbow down you 
can get a nice peg to second base that will get 
the runner. Learn to get the ball away from 
you as quick as a flash, just as if it was a rattle- 
snake. Always when the bases are full, and 
they play the ball to you and you can't get the 
man coming to third, as yon seldom can, get the 
one going to first. If third and first bases are 
occupied and the runner on first tries to steal 
second throw low and have the shortstop run in 
front of the second baseman and the second base- 
man cover the base. If the runner on third 
tries to come home let the short stop take the 



-19- 

throw and return the ball to you and get him, 
but if he doesn't try to come home let the short- 
stop step aside and let the second baseman do 
the throw and get his man. You should always 
throw to second to catch a runner from first so 
the second baseman could catch the ball about 
his knees on his left side. 




THE INFIELDER 



-21 



THE FIRST BASEMAN, 

ALEFTHANDED man makes a good first 
baseman as he can throw to any other place 
in the diamond without turning, in fact a left- 
handed man can hardly play any other position 
except first base, pitch and the outfield. You 
should also be able to recover yourself quickly 
and to field the ball fast as you get a very hot 
ball sometimes when a heavy "batsman happens 
to hit one your way. You should get in the 
habit of leaving the base just as you catch the 
ball, as you are not required to touch the runner 
when he first comes to your base. Don't leave 
too quick, but just as you catch the ball. If it 
is a close decision the umpire can tell better 
whether your foot leaves the base before the 
runner's foot hits it than he can. When you 
catch the ball and stand on the base, always 
when a runner is on the base and you get a 
batted ball get the runner nearest home if pos- 
sible, if it is impossible to get the one nearest 
home get the next nearest. Sometimes when a 
runner is on second and you get a batted ball it 
is impossible to get him at third, you must touch 
the base and get your man and if the runner go- 
ing to third is reckless or in the habit of run- 



-22- 



ning on past third throw to third as soon as pos- 
sible so as to get the ball there before he can re- 
cover. You must think for yourself the most 
you have to do and act on the spur of the move- 
ment. 



THE SECOND BASEMAN. 

77t HE second baseman should be able to run 
^ fast to the left and cover all the ground be- 
tween first and second base that the first base- 
man cannot cover, and you usually have to cover 
a little over half of the distance. Come in on 
the balls batted on the ground and meet them. 
Always be ready to back up the pitcher when 
he gets a batted ball or the first baseman, and 
sometimes when the first baseman is fielding a 
ball and the pitcher fails to cover first, you can 
cover it and get the runner. You should also 
back up the shortstop and assist him in every 
way you can. 



THE THIRD BASEMAN. 

/TfHE third baseman should always be right- 
w' handed and very quick and have a good arm 
so as to throw to first base quickly. You should 
learn to field the Jtuints and all slow balls knock- 



-23- 

ed down your way on the run, with the bare 
hand, as a good runner will beat out a Jiunt if 
you don't hurry. 

You must also be able to take care of your- 
self, for you are apt to get some hard ones some- 
times, and you are so close to the batsman that 
you must field them fast if you expect to do any 
good. 

When there is no runner to take third, if 
you leave always back up and assist the short- 
stop. 



THE SHORT STOP. 

i ff HE short stop should be right handed and 
^^ able to run fast to the right. His position 
is to field all the territory from second base. 
About two-thirds of the way down toward third 
base always come in on the ground ball and get 
them a going. 

Back up the third baseman and when there 
are runners on the base and the third baseman 
is off after the ball, cover third and also back 
the pitcher while he is fielding batted balls. 
Take the throw from the catcher to second base. 
If there is a runner on third and he tries to go 



-24- 

home on a double steal, back up the second base- 
man every time the ball is thrown to him, and 
while he is after a ball cover his base for him. 
When a left hand batter is at bat, cover second 
base. 



® 



THE RIGHT FIELDER. 

II HE right fielder plays back of and between 
y first and second base; you should be a good 
runner and able to gauge a fly ball and to catch 
any place from the ground to as high over the 
head as you can reach Run up on the short 
flies and on the long flies, that go beyond you, 
you must run back after them, not back up how- 
ever, but turn and run with your eye on the ball 
and catch it while going the way it is. You 
must also back up the center fielder when a ball 
comes on his territory near yours, and back up 
first base, when a ground ball is batted his 
way, or when a ball is thrown to him, it might 
make a bad bound or go wild and you be able to 
get the runner at second. 



THE CENTEE FIELDER. 

, - HE center fielder plays back of second base 
S/ and between the right and left fielders. 
You must back up second base and back of the 



® 



25- 



other out-fielders, when a ball comes near your 
territory. 



THE LEFT FIELDEK. 

TTfHU left fielder plays back of and between 
^^ second and third bases. You must back up 
the third baseman and shortstop and the center 
fielder when a ball comes near your territory or 
anywhere near enough that you can get back of 
him by the time the ball gets to him. When 
any fielder gets the ball and a runner is going 
home, if you can't throw to the catcher throw so 
as to make the ball go to the catcher on the first 
bound. If no runner is going home always re- 
turn the ball to a baseman or the shortstop, 
never return the ball to the pitcher from the 
outfield, 

THE BATSMAN. 

ZlTOOD batters are in demand by all Leagues. 
^J'Sonie say a good batter wins more games 
than anyone else, and its a fact that they win 
their part, for a hit at the right time wins many 
a game. You can play any other position well 
and still be a good batsman if you will give bat- 
ting some time, attention and practice. No 
matter how good you are already you can im- 



-26- 

prove. Have confidence in yourself. No mat- 
ter who is pitching the worst he can do is to 
keep you from getting on first, and if you are 
perfectly fearless he will have some trouble 
keeping you off. Watch the pitcher closely all 
the time; try to find out the kind of ball he is 
going to throw, or watch the ball from the time 
it leaves his hand and make him put it over the 
plate above your knees and below your shoul- 
ders. By close observation you will be able to 
tell about where it is going. If you can tell the 
way it turns you can tell the way it will curve, 
but it takes practice to learn what th« ball is go- 
ing to be when you see it coming. Sometimes 
you can learn the signals of the pitcher and 
catcher by letting some other player catch them 
and give them to you from the bench or the 
coaching lines or wherever he may be. To some 
this may not seem fair, but the pitcber, catcher 
and the rest of the team have signals to try to 
get you out, why not you have some signals to 
keep them from it. You can't always catch 
their signals but if you can it is easy to hit when 
you know what is coming. When you can't get 
their signals you must learn to judge for your- 
self. Keep in mind the pitcher's movements, 
his manner of throwing, and always be calm, 
don't get nervous, let nothing disturb you or at- 



-27- 

tract your attention while batting. 'Sometimes 
when a base runner is on the base it is necessary 
for him to know what you are going to do and 
for you to know what he is going to do. You 
want to know whether he is going to steal, or 
when he is going to, and if you want to work 
the hit and run play, you must let him know 
when you are going to hit so he will know when 
to run. Don't try to get a home run every time 
if the bases are full. You might try one but you 
can learn to get a base hit more often than you 
can get a home run. A hit just over the infield 
and not to the outfielders, or a bunt or light tap 
in the infield just wherever you can place it so 
you can get the first base is sufficient. You can 
learn to place them with lots of attention and 
practice only, unlsss you are a natural batsman. 
Most batsmen have their own particular way of 
standing and holding their bats when they go to 
the bat, but you should learn to stand with your 
bat drawn back, or as some say "with your gun 
cocked ready to fire" when the ball comes over. 
A good way to stand if you are a righthanded 
batsman is to put your left foot in front with 
the right knee bent a little. This gives you a 
good position to hit with lots of force. 



® 



28- 



TH E BASE RUNNER. 

|THE fastest runner is not always the best 
■^base runner. He could be if he would learn 
to start quick, to run at the right time and to 
slide. You should take advantage of the care- 
lessness of the pitcher. If you want to steal a 
base on him get a start on his delivery and when 
an outfielder throws the ball to the pitcher or 
any other long throw take a base on him. If 
the catcher catches a foul and you can run a 
base take it, or if a fielder catches a foul or fair 
ball stand on the base or touch it after he catches 
the ball and run a base, but if you can't run a 
base after he catches the ball don' t stand on the 
base but take a safe distance so you can get 
back to the base if he catches it, and if he fails 
to catch it take tha next base. Get that feeling 
of gaiety that makes you take advantage of 
every opportunity without being reckless. You 
must listen to the coach and do as he instructs. 



THE COACH. 

HEN a base runner gets on a base one 
coach takes his position on the coaching 
line near first base and another on the coaching 
line near third base. The coaches are usually 



m 



-29- 

substitute players, but a player may coach until 
his turn at bat, then another player can take his 
place. It is the duty of the coach to instruct 
the base runner at all times. Watch the ball 
and tell the base runner who has it. Watch the 
baseman and keep the runner posted as to his 
movements and on a long hit stop the runner if 
you see he will not be able to make another 
base, or if he could go one base further than he 
thinks you should urge him on. You must do 
everything possible to make the runner safe and 
still make him able to get everything he can. 



30 



concl usioisr. 

fOU must keep the code of signals in mind 
that you are using and also the number of 
outs, the number of base runners on the bases, 
the number of balls and the number of strikes 
on the batsman; in fact you must keep the game 
in your head that you may know where to play 
the ball if you get it. Any criticism by the 
manager or by any one if it is the truth should 
be accepted by you as a great favor no matter in 
what way they give it. Profit by the experience 
and don't let the same thing happen again. If 
you are going to be a sport be one; don't kick or 
quarrel about every little thing or take any un- 
due advantage oyer your adversary. Be as fair 
as you would like any one to be with you. 
Keep your mind and attention on the thing you 
are doing while you are doing it; get control of 
yourself and keep your forces in reserve and 
when occasion demands, use them, Force used 
only increases the one using it. It gives you 
more force and makes you able to do more next 
time. Don't be overanxious but always ready. 
Be as free as water while hunting its own level 



-31- 

and as sure as the artist while painting his mas- 
terpiece. Think out the plays before they hap- 
pen. If you can't tell what will happeu think 
out something to do whatever happens. Never 
be discouraged or give up. Keep eternally at it. 
One slow, lazy effort may lose the game. Come 
aliye and stay awake till the game is over and 
play every play to win. 



One 



c °Py del. to Cat. D iv. 
JUN 20 MHt 



